Biodiversity only makes sense in the light of evolution

Biodiversity is a key to human well-being. However universally acknowledged, this reality is not appreciated as much as one might imagine or hope. Having achieved a high standing in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992, biodiversity appears to have gradually fallen from that position in the 20 years since. This is evidenced by the fact that most discussions and actions in relation to the CBD have now shifted to sustainable development and ecosystem services (Daily 1997), instead of focusing more directly on biodiversity values themselves. One reason for this fall in status seems to be linked to issues about the actual definition of ‘biodiversity’, whether used in a broad sense, including the diversity of genes, species, communities and ecosystems, or more narrowly defined as the diversity of species alone. While the close link between biodiversity and ‘ecosystem services’ is undeniable, biodiversity itself has long recognized links to human well-being, including ‘option values’ (see later) that are sometimes neglected (Faith 2012). The conservation of biodiversity and all its values is fundamental to strategies aimed at achieving the long-term goal of sustainable development. The CBD definition of biodiversity captures the importance of considering variation and its values at multiple levels, including genetic and trait variation (http://www.cbd.int/convention/articles/default.shtml?a=cbd-02). A model that is explicitly evolutionary in nature provides the most coherent and powerful descriptor of biodiversity, and yet evolutionary thinking is generally neglected in most plans to manage our environment. It is critical, however, that an evolutionary perspective be incorporated into conservation planning (Hendry et al. 2010).